Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-22
CURRENT AFFAIRS.


lowing
"The last number of the Washington
Gazette contains a well engraved likeness
or Gov, John NJ. Thayer, who was very
popular here during his Senatorial career.
He was an intimate friend of Secretary
Stanton, and on the night when President
johnson contemplated having Stanton eject
ed from the War Department by the ma
rines, Senator Thayer remained with the
Secretary, and would doubtless have given
some hard knocks had the marines made
their appearance.
The above is all true enough, but it gives
but little Of the events of that somewhat
memorable night, and as | was one of those
''who were there, it occurred to me that
some Of the details might interest your
readers
In the afternoon of that day President
johnson sent to the Senate the name Of
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas as Secretary Of War
al interim, 20 supersede Secretary Stanton.
This caused great excitement, and the Sen
ate Immediately went into executive session
and remained in session till near midnight
1t was during this session that Mr.. Sumner
sent his famous message to Stanton "to
then the Representative from the Pittsburg
district, and both he and myself lived at
Mrs Carriers famous old boarding house on
Capitol Hill
That night Speaker Colfax held the last
Of his public receptions for that session.
and as neither Gen. Morehead nor myself
had attended any Of his previous receptions
we decided to 90 to this, but to 20 quite early
and to come away before the crowd became
great. Colfax then lived on the north side
of Lafayette square and quite near the
| War department. Gen Morehead and my
self were first arrivals at the Speakers re
ception, and we were then informed by Col
fax that Stanton was apprehensive of an
attempt to take furcible possession of the
War Department, and thus put Gen. Thorn
as in actual possession of the office, and
that Stanton was at the War Department
and intended to remain during the night
Mr. Stanton had resided at Pittshurg for
some period, and he and Gen. Moreheud
were very warm personal friends, and the
relations between the Secretary and myself
/ were quite intimate and cordial. We at
once took leave Of Speaker Colfax and
went directly to the War Department,
where We found Mr.. Stanton alone, except
"a few clerks scattered about in the rooms
1 near. | have met many people who seemed
| pleased 10 meet me. but do not recollect
any occasion when the pleasure seemed
greater or the greeting warmer than we
r...i,..J nrI a.,..,ioll,- ,,.ba, W.. onr,,,,,,.
ed that we had come to stay" 1t was not
long before others (mainly members of Con-
gress) began TO gather and on the adjourn
ment of the Senate there came quite a re
enforcement of Senators. of course the
situation was the theme OF discussion,
and what could be done or what should be
done was presented with all the varying
views, such as body Of men would enter
tain when in high state of excitement.
Dakota had for a delegate at this time DR..
| Burleigh, who was fuller of fun and mis-
chief than any other man it has been my
fortune to know This Dr. Burleigh had
in some way got hold of Gen. Thomas at
one of the Washington hotels, and strength
ened his courage with few glasses, so that
Thomas was declaring stoutly that he
would 20 with armed force and GUST Stan
ton from the War Department. DR.. Bur
leigh, of course, was adroitly encouraging
Thomas in his valiant resolutions and dec.
larations.
Constant reports Of these threats by
Thomas were sent to US at the War Depart
ment and formed another element in our
discussions 1t was finally proposed by
some one but do not remember who that
a prosecution be started against Gen. Thorn
as under the recently enacted tenure OF
office law This met with general favor
and | was selected, as perhaps as handy q
lawyer as any of the company, to draw the
complaint and warrant This | proceedet
to do as well as could under the circum
stances. Mr.. Stanton signed the complaint
as complainant and swore to it before Chief
Justice Cartier, of the district court, who
was one of those early on the ground, and
the warrant was signed by Judge Cartier
Before leaving the night at the War De
partment | must not forget an act of pa
triotism that added much to our comfort
and perhaps to our courage though the lat
ter was not heavily taxed. Among other,
present was the late Hon. Samuel Hooper
of Massachusetts, commonly called "Uncl,
Sam Hooper" He gave the best dinner,
in Washington, and was reputed to hav,
the hest larder and other supplies. II,
went home with his carriage, and returned
so laden that no garrison was ever better
prepared to support siege.
A considerable number of us remained
with Mr.. Stanton through the night, and in
the morning Gen. Thomas was arrested
ON the warrant signed by Judge Cartier
and all threatening TO take possession Of
the War Department by force ended, On
being brought before Judge Cartier the
counsel for Gen. Thomas procured a delay
for few days, and bail was given for hi,
appearance.
The Democrats were much eXasperateC
by the tenure of Office law, and | think
they very generally believed it TO be uncon
stimtional, They concluded this case Of
Gen, Thomas's would give an opportunity
for a speedy decision of the validity of tn,
law by having Gen. Thomas decline to fur
nish bail and be committed, and ther
brought before the court by writ of habea,
corpus. Everything was arranged accord
ingly, and ON the day Ihomass case came NJ
before Judge Cartier, Thomas and his coun
sci appeared before Judge Cartier with con
siderable pomp and array, and the counse
announced that Gen. Thomas would waiv,
any examination before Judge Cartier, anC
would decline to furnish further bail, anC
the Judge could order him committed fol
want of bail. But Judge Carter, l pre-
sumo, had knowledge of their purpose be
forehand, At any rate he was quite equa
TO the occasion and ready TO save his friends
and party from the dilemma On the an
nouncement by Thomas's counsel that h
would decline to furnish bail, and he coulC
order him committed, Judge Cartier, witt
his peculiar twinkle of the eye and his inim
liable stammer, said "Oh, know Gen
Thomas he is my neighbor. There is no
the slightest danger he will leave the coun
try and not be here when wanted, and 81
no need of any bail or commitment, and
shan't make any order for any So far a
| know this was the end of the prosecution
against Gen, Thomas. How rapidly thing
went ON from this night to the impeach
ment and trial of President johnson ar,
matters of public history.
~. l,.,,.